California Tribal Nations Hammer Out Preliminary iPoker Proposal

California Tribal Nations Hammer Out Preliminary iPoker Proposal

Eight prominent California tribes have united in a new effort to bring intrastate online poker to the Golden State. Preliminary text for the Internet Poker Consumer Protection Act of 2013 was released by the bill's tribal supporters in late May. Among the proposed provisions is exclusivity for the state's existing tribal casinos and established cardrooms, with all other gambling venues (such as pari-mutuel outlets) to be excluded. The bill also calls for the state to abstain from any federal online gambling legislation and to refrain from taking part in any proposed interstate or international online gaming compacts, such as with neighboring Nevada.

Phil Ivey's August 2012 visit to London's upscale Crockfords Casino has evolved into a legal battle in the wake of Crockfords' continued freeze on Ivey's £7.8 million (US $12.1 million) in winnings over two nights of play. Ivey logged the huge win at a variation of baccarat called punto banco over two nights of play, only to have the casino refund his original £1m stake, but decline to pay out the winnings. Ivey filed a lawsuit in early May, with Crockfords officials quickly responding via the British press that Ivey and an unnamed female companion conspired to take advantage of improperly cut cards featuring a "full bleed" design, which, when rotated allowed Ivey and his companion to identify important cards before they were dealt. The dispute appears destined for a full court trial.

Illinois Legislators Propose St Andalone iGaming Measure

Pro-gambling legislators in Illinois have decided to spin off internetgambling legislation from a larger casino expansion bill in an attempt to move both plans forward in the state. The result is a 67-page, internetgambling- only bill, released in preliminary form by aides to state Senate President, John Cullerton, one of the measure's supporters. The bill, which faces opposition from Illinois Governor Pat Quinn among others, calls for an age-21 player minimum, $20 million initial license fees for operators, and a ten-year "bad actor" lockout for previous US-facing online operators, all under the oversight of a new agency affiliated with the state's lottery.

New details of the UltimateBet cheating scandal and associated cover-up have emerged more than five years after the cheating first made poker headlines, courtesy of two lengthy audio recordings released by Russ Hamilton's longtime computer assistant. Hamilton aide, Travis Makar, released the recordings, which were secretly taped by Hamilton himself and which included extensive input from UB founder and current iovation president Greg Pierson and corporate counsel Daniel Friedberg and Sanford Millar. Hamilton was the sole publicly named cheating conspirator named in findings by UB's then-regulatory overseer, the Kahnawake Gaming Commission.

Pennsylvania Internet Gambling Ban Introduced

Pro- and anti-gambling forces are lining up in Pennsylvania, with PA State Rep. Paul Clymer recently introducing a proposal that would enact a sweeping ban on all forms of internet-based gambling within the Keystone State. Clymer's proposal stands in marked contrast to a measure introduced last month by PA Rep. Tina Davis that would expressly authorize several forms of internet gambling, including poker, for Pennsylvanians. Both bills have entered the committee-hearing phase, and have yet to receive voting action.

No Movement in Full Tilt Player Remission Process

Ongoing fine-tuning of remission plans by DOJ officials means that former US customers of Full Tilt Poker are unlikely to receive balance refunds until late 2014 or early 2015. Officials for claims administrator Garden City Group have confirmed that federal officials are still fine-tuning a refund formula to account for tens of millions of dollars of floated and uncleared deposits made to the site during its final pre-Black Friday months.

Veteran poker-industry writer/editor Haley Hintze is the author of an upcoming book on the Absolute Poker and UltimateBet online cheating scandals, to be released later this year.

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